Meet Amanda Hames, an Early Childhood Educator and owner of Kids ‘R’ Kids Family Daycare in Newman.

Amanda is just one of several educators who has been empowered to become a family day care provider in the Pilbara through BHP's partnership with Wanslea to increase childcare availability in the region.

Under the partnership, BHP provides educators who wish to provide their own family daycare services with premises, as well as grant funding for equipment and fit-out.

Wanslea recruit family day carers, provide training, professional development and governance for the program.

“Thanks to BHP’s support I’ve been able to fulfil my dream of running my own family daycare business,” Amanda said.

“The funding enabled me to purchase the essentials I needed to get the business started. BHP also supplied me a separate house from my personal home to run the daycare. This has helped me separate my work and private life so I can focus more on leaving work at work.”

Amanda absolutely loves seeing the happy faces on the children as they come in each morning.

She also loves how excited they get to tell their families what they got up at daycare before the even get out of the door each day.

“It’s incredibly rewarding watching their parents’ smiles, knowing that their children are happy from the day they’ve had,” Amanda added